There are only three games on tap for Thursday night but we have two pretty decent matchups. The Brooklyn Nets head into L.A. to take on the Los Angeles Lakers and the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks will run it back in Wisconsin. The Nets will be without Kevin Durant again as he is dealing with a hamstring injury. Kyrie Irving is expected to return to the lineup after sitting out the Nets’ comeback win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. There’s no Anthony Davis for the Lakers, so we’re missing a few superstars, sadly.
On the Bucks-Raptors side, Toronto is starting to get it together while Milwaukee is not. The Bucks have dropped four straight and are in desperate need of a win at home vs. the Raps. The absence of Jrue Holiday has been hard to overcome and we’re not sure when he’ll be back in the lineup after being placed in health and safety protocols. Anyway, let’s check out the injury news before lineup drop later on.
NBA starting lineups for Thursday, February 18th
Raptors vs. Bucks, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Raptors confirmed lineup — Fred VanVleet, Norman Powell, DeAndre’ Bembry, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam
Lineup notes: Kyle Lowry (ankle, thumb) has been ruled out. OG Anunoby will remain on a minutes limit. Yuta Watanabe (ankle) is available to play.
Bucks confirmed lineup — Donte DiVincenzo, Bryn Forbes, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez
Lineup notes:
Nets vs. Lakers, 10:00 p.m. ET, TNT
Nets confirmed lineup — Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Bruce Brown, Joe Harris, Jeff Green
Lineup notes: Kyrie Irving (back) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (knee) are available to play.
Lakers confirmed lineup — LeBron James, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Wesley Matthews, Kyle Kuzma, Marc Gasol
Lineup notes: Dennis Schroder (health protocols) has been ruled out.
Heat vs. Kings, 10:00 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass
Heat confirmed lineup — Kendrick Nunn, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson, Kelly Olynyk, Bam Adebayo
Lineup notes:
Kings confirmed lineup — De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Glen Robinson III, Nemanja Bjelica, Marvin Bagley
Lineup notes: Harrison Barnes (foot) and Richaun Holmes (knee) have been ruled out. Marvin Bagley will play on a minutes restriction.